<Nocturnal Harmonia>

[Bloodedge]

Makima's clothes, once he noticed them, were one of the strangest things Yugi had seen thus far. It had nothing to do with the choice, the fit, or how that yukata worked on Makima specifically ─ all of those factors were undeniably on the positive side of things. However, the strong curiosity of how she acquired those articles remained. According to Makima, she acquired them from the System Shop. Yugi's head tilted. He looked at her phone when it was shown, and indeed... she had a similar purchasing option to the Players themselves, and a showing of Gold that wasn't the same number they had. When asked if that was the cause for his curiosity, Yugi tilted his head further. "Sort of. It's not the only thing, but... it's the weirdest thing. Everything else was just hot," he clarified.

This conversation was unrelated to the topic Makima intended to bring up. To Yugi, that didn't matter; this was a potential blaring issue. "It isn't, but it's too weird to ignore. We just got the ability to share Gold bags with a single Shadow Concubine each, with one exception made during the job-change quest. You don't have that rank, so it doesn't make sense that you'd have Gold. That's also... a lot more than what Kozuki got. Is that... the sum of their funds? If my math is right, and my assumptions aren't totally off... I think that's the full Concubine bank. Definitely an exploit... or even another bug? Freaky either way."

[Apollymi]

According to Yugi, his curiosity was indeed about the nature of her purchasing power. He claimed it wasn't his only curiosity but that it was the weirdest thing. Makima fully expected some sort of explanation, but she'd wait for it, she knew the lad's brain needed space to work. "I also agree. Definitely hot♪!~" Miko chirped. Of course, she also found the pure flex of setting up a room in this way and waiting for someone to show up for a conversation to be odd, but she definitely wasn't going to complain about being in a room with lighting directly to her liking.

At the same time, Makima fully understood that the pair was still learning and growing with their System so she wouldn't be withholding information as she figured it out. "Oh? I wouldn't know why I'd get access to all their funds. Strange, but it did allow me to make the purchases. If you've only just gotten the function perhaps there are a few more oddities or exceptions for it?" Makima gave a fairly reasonable answer. "Definitely weird. I could test it. I have one to give, and I just recently got a route of the only person I've met so far I'd consider giving a bag to," Miko claimed pulling up her screen in front of herself. She'd planned to accept the Vice-Chairman in his presence, but she'd easily press accept to give a little test. Miko would then drop a million gold in the bag and assign the bag to Daikichi Hiruko, he was five percent short of being notified of important information but just the movement would make the funds changed if it applied to all concubines. And lo and behold the number on Makima's phone shifted. "Oh? It went up..." she mused, turning the phone back towards the teens so they could see. Makima was being an enigma, even more so than she already was, she'd forced her way into the job-change quest. She'd commandeered Concubine funds, she'd forced the opening of her route, and even before then... she'd tracked down the Players. She had almost special tamed boss energy, for an otome game.

[Bloodedge]

An intermission between the Players' arrival and the topic Makima wanted to address had to be made; this wasn't a matter they could hesitate on. Some points of confusion simply had to be acknowledged without hesitation. How did Makima make purchases in the shop at all, when there was no reason for her to have gold? Yugi's quick mental calculations had him assuming that number on her screen was the sum of all available Shadow Concubine funds. He could have checked by inspecting the inventories of Tae and Kaguya, but... Miko had an even easier way.

A very quick drop of Miko's Concubine funds into one Daikichi Hiruko's unknown inventory would effectively change everything in a single moment. When she made that choice, Yugi didn't question it; he passed the few moments it took by responding to Makima. "The System doesn't do 'oddities' or 'exceptions' in ways that make a lot of sense. It's early, obviously incomplete and growing. This kind of thing is either a bug, or an evolution that isn't done yet," he explained. With that, Miko was done... and a change in number was visible on Makima's phone. "... Hm. That's too many oddities. It's not a bug, but it's hard to say what direction that's going in. I'll keep that one running in the background. You had something to bring up? Besides my dick at least?"

[Apollymi]

Miko would always offer an easy or effective way to do something based on her own instincts. Makima watched their interaction and considered it another positive in their general favor. Miko was a different sort of brilliant and Makima understood that. At the same time, Yugi was willing to take time to put together an explanation she could understand. Their System didn't just make allowances or exceptions. It was still growing along with the Players, so anything odd had to be either a bug, or a feature in its earliest stages. "Sou ka, well let me know what it is. Assuming I won't know by the time you figure it out. And yes I called you both here for a very specific reason," Makima said seemingly pleased by their remaining curiosity. Miko having done what she needed to do, put her phone back into her Inventory and turned her eyes up to look at Makima. She saw the girl's comfort in doing so, and continued.

"I have now done enough observation of you two and have a pretty good understanding, given your attitudes and your own words. I've decided you two will be my new pets," Makima's words caused Miko's face to shift, excitement and confusion. That sounded much more permanent than most things did, but Miko wouldn't be one to argue with essentially being adopted by another adult. "That is to say, I like keeping odd and powerful beings close to me. And since you're both still so young, I'll also manage your lives and help you grow that is both for my benefit and yours," Makima concluded. Such a relationship obviously came with several known benefits including her power and protection while they were still weak enough to need it, and the freedom to act as they pleased with impunity. Though it would also mean they were at Makima's beck and call, Miko didn't see either of them having a problem with that... considering how they'd even ended up in this room. She'd call this a formal adoption dinner under normal circumstances.

[Bloodedge]

Whenever this odd new 'feature' was figured out, if Makima wasn't already privy to its meaning, she'd be the very next person to know. It probably wouldn't take too long to reach a realization. Ah, but it didn't make too much of a difference currently. Makima called them here for a purpose. It was obviously more than just showing off her yukata or... another thing Yugi could tell was going on, but couldn't properly visualize in his mind. Oh well; that would surely come up soon enough too.

What Makima truly wanted, was to announce a decision. She was the type of person who kept 'pets' at her disposal, and had officially decided the Players would become the newest pair. She'd continue managing and aiding them, as she'd been doing already, but presumably with much more certainty. That was fine; neither of them would even think of arguing against that. Yugi even had an immediate response to hearing that declaration ─ one that would confirm his thoughts on the matter. "Woof," he said plainly, quickly even. Ah, but a declaration of that nature wasn't normally so simple. Yugi was already willing to discredit any true negatives, thinking none could be major enough... but there was always another side worth knowing about. "And in exchange?"

[Apollymi]

The oddities surrounding Makima's System access were mostly put to the backburner. This was fine, whatever it meant for her to be able to make purchases long before she would have been able to, meant nothing at all to her. No, she'd decided her newest pets. Now then what kind of reactions had she gotten? A bark and a bright eyed look. That was about expected, the pair of teens didn't seem at all opposed to the things she wanted, but that boy would always be something of a problem.

Of course, he wanted to know the exchange. To Makima such a thing was always obvious, she smirked tilting her head to the side as she gave the full weight of her gaze to the lad, "Once upon a time guaranteed survival was the assumed prize," she said almost wistfully. She missed the time in her life where people were scared pissless of her and simply didn't assume they had anything to bargain with other than their lives. But this pair was indeed special so, special treatment was to be considered, "Mostly pets get privileges and freedom, as long as they know who their master is. Mostly changes depending on who they are but you've seen quite a few examples, either directly or by proxy. It could be anything small or large I can grant to you, depending on your own behavior. Do you want to run a business? Take over a movie theater? Purchase a Ferrari and joyride through the city?Or would you rather sit around all day with your face between my legs and my foot on your dick? Everyone has different taste, but I am fairly agreeable, I like seeing my pets happy~" Makima stated honestly. Such an odd woman she was Miko was certain she was being truthful about her desire to see those she cared for be happy, even if the relationships themselves were a tiny bit toxic. Miko found that respectable, in an odd way. "I should also say I still don't intend to throw my body at you until you're a bit bigger, it'd be boring for me otherwise," Makima said. There was a power dynamic and she'd allow him quite a bit of leeway but she wasn't the type to jump into bed with a teenager simply because they were horny. Still, given the rate of his progress he might see that sort of development sooner rather than later.

[Bloodedge]

"Well, since running into Death herself, I'm not too hung-up on the guaranteed survival thing. Besides... it's too obviously within your interest to keep us alive. That officially stopped being potential leverage when you forced your way into the Job-Change Dungeon to offer a carry. Awesome show, by the way," Yugi rambled to no particular end. Regardless, Makima did have a list of 'privileges' she offered to her 'pets' of choice. The list only became more interesting as she spoke, and... of course, Yugi latched on to the final note with a chortle. "Damn. Do you already have a cultured pet, or were you reading my future?" he quipped.

Alas, Yugi's interests were... oddly restricted in a very specific way. Makima stressed the fact that she wouldn't be offering anything he considered truly important without some amount of upgrading on his part. Yugi's mouth contorted slightly as he clicked his tongue. That was one outcome he hoped he'd be wrong about. "Sou. And how much bigger is 'a bit' bigger? Let's talk numbers; I've been at 60 Strength for a while now, and I don't do well with limits," he spoke. "Also..." One matter of importance would come up in that moment. Since they were discussing privileges, it was easy to assume Makima could at least establish some additional... privacy in their ideal base when it appeared. "We're taking Aokigahara Forest. Extra security wouldn't hurt."

[Apollymi]

Yugi wasn't worried about the nature of survival. Interestingly enough, between meeting Death and Makima forcing herself into the Job-Change Quest, it was impossible to believe in the badness of death or that Makima herself wanted the Players dead. "I'm glad you enjoyed the show. I did realize I was giving quite a bit away, but I also couldn't let you two potentially die," Makima said. One of her other pets had mentioned that death being on the table was only as strong as someone's own connection to life and how much you needed them. It was one of the things she knew well given her previous line of work but also one of the things that many didn't realize so early. These two must have been courting death for quite a while. Beyond these points there was the matter of the kind of things Makima would allow or disallow, including something rather perverted. By the sound of it, Makima wasn't even overly concerned about the situation at all. But Yugi's response garnered a look of curiosity and a chuckle. "Kyah!~ Cultured? Is that what horny teens are calling themselves now?" Makima wondered honestly. As for his question, "In general I am perfectly capable of reading people. You're a bit of a special case, but it didn't seem like it was outside of the realm of acceptable outcomes for you after other foot related actions," Makima said. In truth, Makima used to make a point of making other people as uncomfortable as possible, and she'd learned the hard way that the youth of individuals tended to give them odd reactions to things which more experienced people might have already decided against. "I'd watch that, I need a bit of observation..." Miko confirmed. She might need such a thing for herself. Something Makima also noted.

Meanwhile, a limit was put forth by Makima and while it didn't seem too surprising to the lad, he seemed to be quite annoyed by its existence. He wanted numbers and gave his own strength Stat as a point of concern. "Hm, I don't know how different the numbers are from the ones I'm used to seeing, baseline proper S-rank strength should be required, but there are... variables," Makima said. "What do you think? You have the best variation of experience currently," Makima asked of Miko who'd been experiencing both Yugi and bit by bit a few of Makima's other more regular rotation partners. Miko gave it a bit of thought, taking into account her experience with Gojo, and Rikuya and how much of a difference there was between them and the critical damage she'd taken during that situation. "As a straight up number, considering the starting point, 85 to 90 Strength would technically put you in the S-rank dick conversation, though 100 would be safest. Attitude and skills could carry the rest depending on what Mommy's other stats actually look like. That is taking into account that a 20 plus point difference between us once felt insurmountable♪~" Miko concluded. Ah but there was also something a bit more serious Aokigahara Forest was the base of operations that the Monarchs of Shadows were choosing. Colloquially known as the Suicide Forest... that connection to death made at least reasonable sense. Still, the pair took advantage of their status immediately. Makima was almost proud, "I can do that. I assume you'll take care of your own protection deeper in... technically speaking there is already a bit of a watch on that place. Given the number of E-ranked individuals who immediately walked into the Forest after confirming their Ranking. I guess I'll also make sure you're cleared to enter and exit it as you please... Though I'd avoid mentioning it with your current ranking someone might think you're going to kill yourself~" Makima confirmed of an early problem surrounding that place.

[Bloodedge]

Yugi shrugged off the assertion about his potential interest in foot play of some sort. He was far from opposed, but neither was he dying for the experience. Something on the horizon was stewing, though. Yugi took certain things in a very specific way. Makima had a minimum requirement of endowment ─ something he'd already been required to struggle against with the random S-ranked men Miko started picking up earlier. At present, he managed with grit, skill acquisition and application, and a few exploits here and there. 85, 90 or 100 Strength was Miko's suggestion for the chairwoman's requirement. Yugi remained in silent contemplation during that exchange, barely avoiding a series of grumbles. A single "Hm," slipped out despite that effort. "So you're saying... until I hit one of those requirements, you're under lock and key? Are we clear on that?" Yugi asked the redhead. He seemed a bit more serious than these deviant situations typically let him be. Ah, but this was no longer simply a streak of deviance in the works: it was a challenge he would do much more than meet.

Whatever came of that, there was another matter of great long-term importance on the proverbial table. As he expected, there were E-ranked Hunters to be found dead in the forest they discussed. Yugi considered the possibility of something stronger being present as well ─ someone who lost themselves to pressure. Either way, that forest was a certain special access he expected to get from being surrounded by death. "Clearance won't really be necessary. Actually... skip that part entirely. Restrict the forest even more, no discrimination. Total ground zero for Hunters and civilians alike."

[Apollymi]

Apparently Yugi could only shrug at the idea of being interested in feet to a greater extent than his thigh high based oddity would imply. Makima was certain he'd be more into than he'd be opposed to it, but such was simply the nature of people. Ah but now Makima was seeing something interesting. The lad who didn't like boundaries or limits beginning to push back against them. Miko did her part as a partner, she gave the information she had, she'd help him meet the requirement, knowing he could make up the difference and do right by the woman even if he only had her base amount of tool to work with. All Miko heard from the lad initially was a grumble, and it was enough... to make her eyes shift, not away from Makima, but the to the corners towards him on that cushion next to her. 'That sounds different♪~' Miko thought. Makima on the other hand, took in the more serious moment of the lad's visage and her head tilted to the other side. She'd seen a look like that from someone else she'd placed under her. And that kind of question was dangerous. If Yugi was a better man she'd have assumed he was going to gamble everything away in a moment, but here and now she wasn't sure what the lad's shift was about, "I've seen that face before and heard that tone. How nostalgic~" Makima murmured so softly it was basically whispered. "Yes. You are not putting your dick inside of me... until you meet the base requirement. 85 seems to be fair," Makima decided. Miko as she was observed wouldn't lie, nor would she exaggerate unnecessarily, so her opinion could be trusted in this case. Whatever came of that challenge, the woman would welcome it, and likely end up with a pet most similar to her original one.

No matter, they were discussing something apparently important to the pair. The ability to hold up in the Aokigahara Forest, and the kind of 'protection' they wanted it to have. "No clearance would keep any details from being leaked. That I get. Making the Forest completely off-limits will attract certain kinds of boundary pushers. That could be seen as a bit cruel but... my original work says that doesn't bother me," Makima mused aloud. "How are you going to get in and out though? Additionally I should warn you of the extra problematic nature of a full lockdown of a zone. It wouldn't stop a National Hunter from going to look, they are... islands unto themselves. And while one would at least ask a question or two. One of the ones who calls this country home is... too free spirited to answer to anyone," Makima said. Miko said something then, "That was not a compliment, at all... also you'll crack a tooth doing that," Miko murmured, hearing that almost imperceptible grind of Makima's back molars.